DIY Street Fair returns with local music, art and food

Kate Ford, originally from Grosse Pointe, practices an ancient wax-resistant dyeing technique called batik. She layers wax on fibrous material -- such as T-shirts, scarves and wall hangings -- then dyes them to add color. (Submitted photo)

The free event brings more than 130 vendors, 62 musical acts, a kids zone, a charity 5k run and local cuisine from area restaurants and food trucks.

The event launched its first weekend street fair in 2008. It runs in conjunction with the Funky Ferndale Art Fair (see below).

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DIYSF aims to produce a traditional fair experience focused on friends and neighbors while reducing waste wherever possible. The fair wrapped its first annual event with just one bag of trash, and the same practices continue. Free water is provided to patrons to minimize plastic bottle usage, and beer is served in reusable cups.

Highlights of this year’s event include:

— Original musical acts perform throughout the weekend on two outdoor concert-grade stages and one indoor stage. Lineup includes national acts DEATH (a protopunk band originally formed in Detroit in 1971) and country blues band Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band; local legends Suicide Machines and Thunderbirds Are Now!; local touring acts The Sights, Jamaican Queens and Child Bite; and a special appearance by Livonia-based deaf hip-hop artistSean Forbes.

— Art vendors from 130 independent businesses, offering handmade, original artistic works. Booths stay open late into the evening.

— Kids Zone has entertainment, hands-on activities and educational experiences for children of all ages, including a climbing tower, art projects, bike maintenance demos, story time, sing-a-long, and a charity dunk tank for Ferndale area educational programs.

— Local charities: DIY hosts local charities raising funds through sales of lemonade, popcorn and cotton candy provided by fair organizers, through tips from beer and cocktail service, and through parking proceeds.

The event is in the southeast quadrant of Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, spanning the Ferndale Public Library parking lot, Troy Street and the city parking lot (Falvey Lot) behind Woodward Avenue Brewers in Ferndale. Parking will be available at Credit Union One on Nine Mile at Paxton for $10, to benefit FernCare, a free medical clinic.

The Funky Ferndale Art Fair is a juried art fair, featuring art works from 120 artists from throughout the country. The fair specializes in works you may not see at other events. There will also be food offerings from some of Ferndale finest restaurants.

Hours of the fair, which is on Nine Mile Road west of Woodward Avenue in downtown Ferndale, are 3-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.